States' witness

Charity: Moral lawmakers make more moral laws | Rusty Leonard and Warren Cole Smith

Capitol Ministries

Evangelical pastor Rick Warren moderated a forum with John McCain and Barack Obama. A coalition of groups including Focus on the Family, the Family Research Council, and the American Family Association will hold its annual Values Voters Summit just weeks before the November election. And every year or so another magazine lists the most influential evangelical groups or leaders.

But it could be that one Christian group having lasting impact on the political life in this country—and its leaders—is one most evangelicals have never heard of. California-based Capitol Ministries began when Ralph Drollinger started leading a Bible study for state legislators in Sacramento. The ground rules were simple: legislators only, and check your party affiliation at the door. These meetings would not be discussions about legislation, or even what Scripture says about legislation. They were focused on disciple-making.